In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a 10-year-old boy tragically lost his life on a Sunday morning, struck by lightning at Lamphelpat in Imphal West district.
The incident unfolded amidst a tumultuous scene of heavy rainfall and a fierce thunderstorm that swept across parts of the state that very morning.
The young victim, identified as Telem Suraj, the son of Telem Surchandra from Kumbi Salam Konjil, was residing in a residential quarter within a mechanized farm in Lamphel.
Per reports from law enforcement sources, the lightning struck perilously close to the residential area around 11 am, causing severe burn injuries to the boy’s head, shoulders, and right leg.
Despite receiving immediate medical attention at RIMS hospital, Suraj tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, Tadubi MLA N Kayisii sprang into action in response to the devastation wreaked by heavy rain and hailstones in the Willong and Tadubi TD blocks of Senapati district, extending immediate assistance to the affected villagers.
The natural disasters wreaked havoc in the villages of Pumdumlong, Willong Khunou, and Chaka, leaving a trail of destruction that included ravaged school buildings and residential houses.
ADC Senapati caretaker chairman A Kapani also surveyed the damaged school buildings and pledged to initiate repair works promptly to ensure minimal disruption to students’ studies.
The storm also battered Tadubi and its neighboring villages, leaving several houses partially destroyed.
In the aftermath of the calamities, the Tadubi MLA promptly orchestrated the distribution of essential relief materials, including CGI sheets, to the affected families.
Furthermore, heavy rains accompanied by powerful thunderstorms wreaked havoc in Thoubal district on that Sunday morning, resulting in damage to properties and infrastructure in the Khongjom and Sapam Sangaikhong villages.
The storm, which struck around 9 am, left behind a path of destruction, particularly impacting the villages of Khongjom Sangaikhong and Khongjom Keithel, although there were no reports of injuries to residents.
Among those affected, Thoudam Netrajit’s house was flung approximately 50 feet towards the road connecting Sangaikhong and Tekcham.
Netrajit estimated the damages to his property at around Rs 5 lakh.
Similarly, Sairom Rakesh’s house suffered severe damage, with the roof blown away and landing on neighboring houses belonging to Sairom Nawang and Sairom Nanao.
Furthermore, sheds utilized for poultry farming owned by Konthoujam Gourashankar and Konthoujam Ibopishak were also demolished by the windstorm.
In the aftermath of the calamity, a team from the Thoubal district administration visited the affected families in the afternoon to assess the extent of the damage.
Thoubal DC Ahanthem Subash, accompanied by SDO M Ranjita, evaluated the destruction caused by the rainstorm at Sangaikhong on Sunday and extended monetary assistance to the victim’s family.
Aside from disbursing Rs 10,000 in aid along with edible items, the DC also advised the homeowner, Thoudam Netrajit, to submit relevant documents concerning the incident to the authorities.
This spate of destruction comes amidst forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding intensified rainfall activity in the Northeast region.
IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts, signaling the possibility of heavy rainfall over the next five days.
Meteorological observations indicate a cyclonic circulation hovering above Northeast Assam at an altitude of 1.5 km above mean sea level.
This atmospheric configuration, coupled with the influx of moisture from the Bay of Bengal towards the northeastern region due to southerly/southwesterly winds at lower levels, portends the likelihood of light to moderate rainfall in numerous locations.
Additionally, isolated instances of heavy to very heavy rainfall are anticipated, accompanied by mild to moderate thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph.
